Volume 3: The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors Chapter 654: Mozi
Mengcheng.
Everything fell silent.
The moment the word "reason" fell, it was destined to overshadow the splendor of Zhuangzi's sword.
The sword that permeated the world spread like wind and rain, floating in the air.
Mingyu stood in the void, quietly looking at Zhuangzi who was indifferent to the world.
The sword of the common people, the sword of the princes, and the sword of the emperor, these three swords are Zhuangzi's sword, the free and easy sword.
It is three forms, and also one form.
Taoists are detached from the world, while Zhuangzi lives freely in the world.
The common people, the princes, the generals, the ten thousand nations, the four seas and the eight wildernesses, Zhuangzi's heart is like a giant Kun in the ocean, and he walks like a big Peng in the sky. The changes of Kun and Peng, the intersection of wind and water, have made this life free and easy.
This is Zhuangzi's great way.
In other words, it is Kunpeng's avenue.
Whether it is the free and easy Taoist of the ancient times, the demon master Kunpeng who roams the world, or the great Taoist master Zhuang Zhou today.
He is still the same person.
"It hasn't changed!" Mingyu said with a smile.
Zhuangzi also laughed.
He looked at the "Virtue" sword in Mingyu's right hand, then shifted his gaze to the "Reason" book in his left hand, and said with a smile:
"You haven't changed either."
Whether he is convincing people with "virtue" or with "reason", his style is the same as always, and he is still the familiar Taoist master.
The two smiled at each other.
Zhuangzi said slowly, "I still have two swords, one is 'Autumn Water' and the other is 'Sitting and Forgetting'."
"I wanted to discuss this with you again, but now it seems there is no need."
After saying this, Zhuangzi looked at Mingyu curiously and asked, "The 'Dispute of the Philosophers' is right before our eyes. I wonder how many swords you still have to deal with them?"
"Regardless of anything else, Mozi will never let this opportunity go. He will definitely challenge you to a duel."
When he said this, there was a hint of smile in Zhuangzi's eyes.
I don't know if it was intentional by the Legalists, but recently Han Fei has been vigorously advocating that Confucianism and Mohism are "the most prominent schools of thought in the world", and the theories of the other schools of thought are like pearls compared to the bright moon.
Among the countless divine kingdoms and various schools of thought in Tian Zhou, the public opinion relations between the two families have never been very harmonious.
In response to Zhuangzi's question, Mingyu smiled softly, "Since I'm here to join you all, how could I not be prepared?"
He turned and pointed at Yan Hui and the others, saying, "The Confucians have drawn three thousand swords. How should the other philosophers respond?"
"The Confucians have unleashed three thousand swords. How should the other philosophers respond?"
The same words echoed in the ears of hundreds of scholars.
…
Cai State.
"A-choo!"
The medical sage Bian Que suddenly sneezed.
"Master?"
Next to Bian Que stood a girl with bright eyes and a kind look. She was wearing a light blue long dress. She was quiet and elegant, with a figure as slender as a bamboo, standing tall and graceful.
At this moment, she was holding a scripture in her hand and reading it carefully. When she heard the sneeze, she turned sideways and looked at her teacher with a puzzled look.
"Ah, it's okay, it's okay!" Bian Que waved his hands. His eyes flashed, and he glanced towards the State of Song. Then, with some fear in his eyes, he shook his head and said, "Ling'er, how about we not go to the 'Debate of the Philosophers' this time?"
"Not going?" Ling'er's eyes sparkled, and she hesitated, "But Senior Brother Mingyu's Confucianism will be participating in the 'Controversy of Philosophers' this time. Didn't Master say before that we must go and support Senior Brother?"
"Is that true?"
"Yes, I have!"
Ling'er nodded slightly with a serious expression.
Then, she slowly put down the backpack, skillfully took out a roll of bamboo slips from it, gently opened it, read ten lines at a glance, and soon found the accurate record.
"Here~, Ling'er has taken note of Master's daily words and deeds."
Ling'er smiled faintly and handed the bamboo slips to Bian Que.
Bian Que looked down and was instantly embarrassed.
He said embarrassedly: "Yes, yes, Master did say so!"
"So, are we still going to the Zhou Dynasty to participate in the 'Debate of Philosophers'?" Ling'er asked again, her watery eyes looking intently at Bian Que.
"go!"
"Of course!"
Bian Que quickly replied, his eyes wandering, "But first we must go and see Gongsun Qing, the senior doctor of the State of Cai."
Bian Que glanced at the bamboo slips in his hand, pointed to one of them and said, "When someone invites you, you must go!"
"Shang Dafu?"
Ling'er frowned slightly. She thought for a moment, then whispered, "Master, this person believes in witchcraft, not medicine. Are you sure you want to go?"
"Do you believe in witches but not doctors?"
Bian Que raised his voice and shook his head decisively: "I'm not going, whatever you want!"
He decisively drew a line at the corresponding position on the bamboo slip.
Then he looked at a few more lines and quickly locked onto a name.
"Duke Huan?"
"It's him!"
Treating the monarch has always been the most troublesome thing and can delay a lot of time!
Bian Que waved his hand and decided on the next patient to be examined.
He strode towards the capital of the State of Cai.
"Master, wait for me!"
Ling'er put the bamboo slips away carefully , picked up the backpack again, and ran like a deer. Soon she arrived at the capital of Cai State with Bian Que.
…
At the same time, the State of Chu.
The farming sage Xu Xing paused and whispered, "Three thousand swords?"
"Brother Mo, can you catch it?"
Xu Xing shuddered, then turned his head to look at Mozi beside him.
Mo Zi was dressed in black, of medium build, with a youthful appearance, and a pair of eyes as deep as a cold pond.
Hearing Xu Xing's question, Mozi smiled softly and asked, "Brother Xu, can you take it?"
"I?"
Xu Xing shook his head repeatedly: "I can't catch it, I can't catch it!"
"I'm just a poor farmer who only knows a few tricks in farming."
"I just grow some flowers, raise some poultry, and tame some beasts to keep myself occupied."
"There are three thousand Confucian swords. Where can I go to take them all by myself?"
Xu Xing laughed at himself. He looked at the group of disciples following behind Mozi. They were all wearing black clothes, with a long sword hanging from their waists. They all had stern faces, like knights carved from the same mold.
He said with envy, "No wonder Han Fei said that Confucianism and Mohism are the most prominent schools of thought in the world!"
"Given the reputation of your Mohist school, it's no exaggeration to say it's a prominent school!"
Mozi raised his eyebrows, his lips curling slightly. "Brother Xu, you're joking. Guangchengzi must have been instructed by my second brother to deliberately sow discord between the Confucian and Mohist schools!"
"This time when we go to the Zhou Dynasty, we'll deal with him first!"
“That’s right!”
Qin Huali, the great disciple of Mohism who was the reincarnation of Zhao Gongming, stepped forward.
He said loudly: "Confucianism advocates benevolence and righteousness, Mohism advocates universal love; Confucianism advocates the gentleman, Mohism advocates the sage; Confucianism advocates world peace, Mohism advocates universal unity!"
"They come from the same family but have different names. What's the difference?"
Qin Huali's words were powerful. He spoke passionately, "Han Fei is called a Legalist, but he's actually a Confucianist. That fellow is quite good at confusing right and wrong!"
"Yes, that's right!"
The Mohist disciples responded in unison: "Confucianism and Mohism share the same origin but different names. They are close and love each other. There is no contradiction at all!"
"Yes, yes, yes, there is no contradiction, no contradiction!"
Xu Xing wiped the nonexistent sweat from his forehead. Looking at the Mohist disciples, all speaking in unison, he couldn't help but internally complain, "If I hadn't sacrificed a meal to learn a little bit about your Mohist philosophy, I would have almost believed it!"
Mohism advocates universal love, non-aggression, frugality, respect for the virtuous, respect for unity, the will of heaven, understanding ghosts, non-fatalism, and non-music...
These ideas seem to be consistent with Confucianism, but in fact they are mostly diametrically opposed!
Although different paths lead to the same destination, different values are created by different paths.
Even if the two families cannot be said to be as hostile as water and fire, they can be said to dislike each other.
What is the most similarity between the two families?
Maybe they are not very fond of the Legalists.
Mozi sensed Xu Xing's thoughts and smiled.
Confucianism and Mohism are indeed different.
If the Confucian way is to be humble and polite, then three thousand Confucian scholars from top to bottom have entered the world and led hope.
The Mohist way is to take revenge and repay kindness. Eight hundred Mohists went from bottom to top, trampling over the human world, looking for a way out.
The former represents Mingyu, the master of life, who combines Confucianism with humanity and unifies all things with the Three Thousand Daos. It is an important stage in his attempt to prove the Dao of Pangu by relying on the "Three Give Births to All Things".
The latter represents Tongtian, the leader of the Jiejiao sect, who uses "ink" to block all paths and is on the road to heaven without stopping.
The difference between him and Mingyu is that he is Pangu, and there is no need to prove it!
Pangu transformed into the Three Pure Ones, and the four words "Shangqing Tongtian" actually means a road to heaven.
He represents the young Pangu and the ultimate meaning of Pangu's unstoppable determination and perseverance.
Therefore, among the Three Pure Ones, he is the most murderous.
No matter how many paths are blocked, killing is the only way.
He is always so sharp.
Recalling the past, when the three tribes were in great calamity, Taoist Yuchen traveled through the wilderness with only a sword.
To this day, among the mythical philosophers, the leader of the Mohist school leads his followers to travel the world wielding swords, taking pleasure in avenging enemies.
Unlike Mingyu's Confucian scholars, Mohists are more like knights.
When they see injustice, they draw their swords to help.
The leaders of the religions teach everyone, so they love the world.
The leader is fair and selfless, so they say the world is the same.
The leader intercepts the chance of life, so they talk about the way of non-fatalism.
The Biyou Wanxian of the past and the Mohists of today are actually all practicing one word - "interception"!
Mozi looked around at his disciples, a sincere smile on his face.
"Good."
"What's good?"
Xu Xing glanced at Mozi, who was smiling all the time.
This guy only looks like this when he comes to eat for free.
It’s not like this when you’re out there stirring up trouble!
He is famous for his adherence to conventions.
But reputation has both good and bad sides, doesn’t it?
Apart from anything else, Gongshu Ban was almost driven into autism by Mozi!
“Ahem~~”
Mozi suppressed his smile and said in a gentle voice, "Brother Xu, although we in the Mohist school advocate frugality, we still have to pay for meals!"
"You don't have to look at me like that."
Mozi looked around the farmyard and his eyes fell on a group of strange birds and beasts he had never seen before.
"Hmm~"
Mo Zi nodded with satisfaction: "Brother Xu is indeed a famous gourmet. He always manages to cultivate unexpected ingredients!"
"You think I want to?"
Xu Xing curled his lips. "You have to follow so many rules when you come to eat here. The ingredients in the previous recipes either don't align with your philosophy, or have become auspicious beasts and are no longer allowed to be eaten."
"What can I do?"
"I can only do it myself and cultivate some fresh ones!"
Mozi smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Xu!"
"Xu Zi, you've worked hard!"
The Mohist disciple chuckled.
As they looked at the pits and valleys full of novel ingredients, they couldn't help but sigh in their hearts: "Zhen Yuan Daxian, this is professionalism!"
If we say that the greatest pleasure in the life of the Mohists is to practice their ideas with the great masters.
The second best thing would be to come to the farmer’s house and eat and drink for free!
Xu Xing was delighted to see all the Mohist disciples' eyes shining.
Having our food recognized is the greatest respect for gourmets!
However, he still pretended to be serious: "According to your Mohist rule: 'One day without work, one day without food.'"
"You can eat if you want. But you also have to do some of my farm work!"
The Mohist disciple readily agreed: "Xu Zi, don't worry."
"With us Mo family here, what farm work can't we do for you?"
Qin Huali took a step forward, raised his chin slightly, and said with great satisfaction: "My ink work is unparalleled in the world. Who in the world doesn't know it?"
Their Mohist art of woodworking and mechanical engineering is the most famous among all the schools of thought!
So, at Mozi's command, all the Mohist disciples went out together.
Clouds and light are everywhere, and machines are flying!
Countless ingenious farm tools, mechanisms, and equipment were put into operation on the farmers' land.
In less than an incense stick of intensive cultivation, feeding and harvesting, Xu Xing's so-called "farm work" was done.
"I have to say, you Mo family members are really efficient!"
Xu Xing started to praise. The more he looked at these Mohists, the more he felt happy.
The Mohist school and the Agricultural school are a match made in heaven!
When Mozi saw Xu Xing praising his family's mechanical skills, his expression changed and he signaled to Qin Huali with his eyes.
Qin Huali understood what he meant. He chuckled, moved closer to Xu Xing, and took out a bamboo slip as if to show his courtesy.
"Xu Zi, the mechanism you asked us to improve last time is now taking shape!"
"real?!"
Xu Xing was delighted when he heard this. The art of agriculture is, after all, the art of living for the people. The improvements in agronomy made by the Mohist mechanism can greatly promote the development of agriculture. This is why Xu Xing is so familiar with Mozi.
He took the bamboo slips, looked at them carefully, and said three times: "Good, good, good!"
"Can it be promoted?" Xu Xing asked a key question.
Qin Huali patted his chest and promised: "After we return, we will organize mass production!"
Xu Xing was overjoyed and announced an extra meal on the spot!
"Xu Ziyingming!"
The Mohist disciples shouted.
For a moment, the small farm world was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.
"What are you all so happy about?"
A sense of awe-inspiring righteousness suddenly emerged.
Then the wind and thunder roared, and three thousand chariots made a rumbling sound and headed straight for this place!
Mingyu held the "Li" book in her left hand and the "De" sword in her right hand. She smiled gently, "Do you all mind a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks ?"
